Sheahan Patricia (Pat) May
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Also known as: | Pat |
| Date of birth | 1936 |
Pat Sheahan or, if you want to be formal, Patricia May Sheahan, was born on 28th January 1936 in the rather new Mercy Hospital in East Melbourne. Her father was Harry O’Neill, really Henry Patrick, and her mother had been Maggie Healy…the Maggie was all her father wrote when registering her birth.
Back home Pat already had a sister Margaret almost six years old. The family were living in West Brunswick at the time but soon afterwards moved briefly to St Kilda and finally bought a home in Glen Iris. In time Pat attended St Roch’s primary school which was run by the Sisters of St Joseph, just a short walk from her home though when Pat started on her birthday in 1941 dawdling along behind her big sister it did not seem like a short walk.
Those wartime memories are varied as there were blackouts, a grandfather making camouflage nets, neighbours sharing fruit to make jam for the troops, sending parcels to cousins in England and acquiring both a dog and a car when an uncle in the army was moved interstate….and ration books. Don't use too much butter!
For year 8 Pat won a scholarship to a central school where she could learn Latin, French, Algebra and Geometry while her St Roch’s friends were still learning cooking and sewing. It was an interesting year as she also had to learn how to catch trams, buses and even trains when the tram drivers went on strike.
The following year another scholarship took her to Presentation Convent Windsor to continue those studies. But she still went back to St Roch’s for tennis, basketball, now called netball, music lessons, dances in the parish hall and, of course, church.
In 1954 an even longer tram ride took her to Melbourne University to study Arts. A studentship from the Education Department paid her fees and even a living allowance. This was much needed as her father now had Parkinson’s disease.
Pat loved university; the studies as well as the social life. In her second year she met a tall fair student of Agricultural Science and Pat added watching Amateur football to her busy life. In holiday time she worked in a city gift shop or went to the beach or country with friends.
Having completed the Arts degree, in 1957 she studied education and emerged with a diploma and a position at Sunshine High School. Sunshine was an interesting place where the manufacture of farm machinery had attracted migrant workers so few of the students had been born in Australia. Many of the students were older than usual for their class. It was an interesting and involving challenge.
The following Easter Pat married Basil Sheahan at Newman College Chapel at Melbourne University. Some commented that it was good to be an Easter bride but Pat knew it was just a spare weekend after harvest and before footy season. She exchanged Sunshine High for Ouyen High and began to learn about the Victorian Mallee.
In 1960 a daughter Susie was born at the Ouyen Hospital. By this time the little family were living on the Mallee Research Station at Walpeup, well supported by that small community. There was still time for tennis, table tennis, dances, church and lots of watching footy.
1965 brought another move as Basil began teaching at Rupertswood where the Salesians had a secondary school teaching agriculture. As Susie also started school, Pat taught at the local Sunbury High School. She still played a little tennis, became deeply involved with the local basketball association and the whole family were part of the parish life and the community. One part was visiting the large Mental Asylum, encouraging the inmates to write and editing a magazine for them. After a few years Pat joined Basil on the staff at Rupertswood, an interesting experience as it was unusual for them to employ lay staff and Pat was the first female staff member in that very male environment.
1972 brought another big change as Basil took up a position at Roseworthy Agricultural College. The little family enjoyed the community life on campus and in Gawler where Susie was at school. Pat soon was employed at Roseworthy College as a part time librarian. She also helped out once a week with religious education at Gawler High. And then she did some relief teaching there. By third term Pat was sharing the task of running that school library with another part time teacher, an interesting situation as they never met.
Eventually Pat began teaching English and History at the High School, but always with a special interest in reading. As at Sunbury there were many students from non-English speaking backgrounds so for a few years Pat ran a reading program to encourage these students to read at their own level and then catch up to the rest.
In 1976 a small notice in the Sunday Mail suggested families may wish to invite a refugee from Pennington Hostel for a meal. The Sheahan family expressed an interest and were allocated two Chinese Vietnamese teenagers who soon became a regular part of their weekends. With three drivers in the family it was no effort to collect the boys or drive them back. Soon Tai announced his English lessons were over and he was free to attend a High School. Which school? Gawler High, of course, so Tai came to live at Roseworthy too. The community was supportive especially the St Joseph’s table tennis club who welcomed him wholeheartedly as did neighbours and friends.
In a couple of years Tai finished year 12 ... well done Gawler High teachers ... and went to Adelaide for University but still remained part of the family. He is still in contact though he now lives in Hong Kong.
Back at Roseworthy girls were beginning to appear on the scene. They even started a netball team. In 1977 they thought tall Susie may like to help out as they were often short of players. They also conscripted Pat as coach. That was the beginning of a very happy relationship with the Roseworthy girls as Pat began the habit of watching their games on the Association courts. When others were found to coach she was given the title of patron.
At the end of the seventies, two nursing sisters from Gawler’s Hutchinson hospital became worried about the refugee situation. Bernie Smart and Cathy O’Grady called a public meeting which led to a fundraiser, then a picnic for refugees from Pennington Hostel. Under the shade of the old Moreton Bay Fig trees, the support of the Gawler community was obvious.
A branch of the Indo China Refugee Association was formed and several churches each agreed to sponsor one family. The Sheahans became the host family for the Catholic parish. Since then they have befriended many refugees from various countries.
At the end of 1991, Pat left Gawler High but there were many things to keep her busy. Susie was married and had four boys who were always ready for a game of tennis or a farm holiday. Pat had always been part of Basil’s work as a Vincentian but by the mid 90’s she joined as a Conference member, they had not always had women in that role.
Another interest was bush walking. From school and uni days she had enjoyed hiking. Now she and a few others began walking each Wednesday morning in our Conservation Parks or on private properties. That group has been a source of joy, a love affair with the environment and a great source of friendship. From that too grew a local Bushcarer’s group, preserving the native plants growing in a local cemetery. Naturally Pat needed to follow up the history of some of the good people buried in the cemetery.
After Basil retired in 1994 both worked for a time as tour guides at Roseworthy Campus with Pat concentrating on the history.
Always the history of where she lived interested her. In 1998 Pat published “A History of the Gawler Catholic Parish to 1901”. She spent even more time in the Gawler Library then though she has been a friend of the Gawler Library for some time.
About this time too Pat took on another responsibility as coordinator of Fred’s Van, where a free meal is available for all who want it for about half an hour each week in our local Pioneer Park. That too has enabled Pat to make many friends among those who come and those who serve.
In doing such things Pat found Basil’s advice and support invaluable.
Australia Day 2001 was special as Pat and her husband Basil were named as Joint Citizens of the Year in Gawler. Sharing the honour was appropriate as they had always shared their interests and responsibilities.
But in 2002, after a long period of poor health Basil left Pat for greener pastures. She still lives on the old farm west of Roseworthy Campus and enjoys life, still walking with friends, enjoying her family and reading a little history too.
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